Month: May 2025

Rethinking Financial Health for Women Entrepreneurs in Low-Income Countries

A new report from CARE’s Strive Women program reveals that women entrepreneurs in emerging markets face far more than just funding challenges. Based on insights from nearly 2,500 women in Pakistan, Peru, and Vietnam, the report shows that digital access, crisis savings, support networks, and caregiving responsibilities all significantly impact business success. While most women are confident in their ability to grow a business, many are held back by limited financial tools, lack of digital training, and the weight of unpaid household labor. True financial health, the report argues, means designing systems that reflect women’s real lives—offering flexible funding, digital upskilling, peer support, and solutions that ease the burden of care. To read more, see this link.

Women Business Owners More Concerned About Economic Uncertainty

A new CNBC|SurveyMonkey survey shows that women small business owners are feeling more anxious than men about the economy. They’re more likely to worry about inflation, rising costs, and the possibility of a recession—and nearly 70% say they’re stressed about their business finances. While women are starting businesses at record rates, these concerns reflect the real challenges they’re facing and highlight how differently economic conditions can impact people depending on their experiences. Click this link to read more.

Motherhood Meets Entrepreneurship: Creative Strategies That Work

Now that Mother’s Day has passed, we’re spotlighting insights from women entrepreneurs who are balancing the full-time demands of both business and motherhood. In this HerStory feature, they share the real-life “hacks” that help them juggle investor meetings, school runs, and toddler tantrums—often all in the same day. From time-blocking during school hours to using sensory kits to keep kids engaged during work calls, these mothers rely on structure, early mornings, and strong support systems. They also emphasize the importance of self-care and mental clarity. Their message to other moms thinking about launching a business: you don’t need a perfect plan—just the confidence to begin and the grace to ask for help.

Cyber Threats to Small Business

Nearly half of small and medium-sized businesses globally have experienced a cyberattack, according to a forthcoming Mastercard survey of over 5,000 business owners. The most common forms of attack include hacking, malware, and phishing. These breaches not only lead to financial losses and reduced productivity but also lasting reputational damage—80% of affected businesses reported needing to rebuild trust with clients and partners. Alarmingly, nearly one in five businesses that suffered an attack ended up closing or filing for bankruptcy.

While 86% of small businesses have conducted cybersecurity risk assessments and created prevention plans, only 23% feel very confident in those plans or in their ability to detect threats. A major challenge is educating employees, who often serve as both the first line of defense and a potential vulnerability; 73% of owners report difficulty getting staff to take cybersecurity seriously.

The article published by Mastercard underscores the urgent need for better tools, training, and support to help small businesses strengthen their cyber defenses and avoid devastating consequences.